In a second. By raising participation in education, employment or training to the age of 18, everyone will have a fair chance of success. We are supporting that with a broader set of reforms, which I will set out when I have taken the intervention by my near neighbour from...

In a second. By raising participation in education, employment or training to the age of 18, everyone will have a fair chance of success. We are supporting that with a broader set of reforms, which I will set out when I have taken the intervention by my near neighbour from...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. This landmark Bill has rightly benefited from considerable and enthusiastic debate in Committee and today on Report. I thank right hon. and hon. Members on both sides of the House for their considered and largely informed scrutiny...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. This landmark Bill has rightly benefited from considerable and enthusiastic debate in Committee and today on Report. I thank right hon. and hon. Members on both sides of the House for their considered and largely informed scrutiny...

The hon. Gentleman has raised the case of Kirsty Oldfield in the House on several occasions, and we are considering it. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary would be happy to meet him to discuss how we might be able to take forward the concerns that he raised through the new...

The hon. Gentleman has raised the case of Kirsty Oldfield in the House on several occasions, and we are considering it. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary would be happy to meet him to discuss how we might be able to take forward the concerns that he raised through the new...

I am particularly grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way because I just wanted to endorse his thanks to all the people that he mentioned, particularly himself and his fellow shadow Ministers who served on the Committee, the Chairmen and my fellow Ministers—especially some who had to spend a...

I am particularly grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way because I just wanted to endorse his thanks to all the people that he mentioned, particularly himself and his fellow shadow Ministers who served on the Committee, the Chairmen and my fellow Ministers—especially some who had to spend a...

I will not take any more interventions because I need to leave time for others to take part in this short Third Reading debate. We are supporting our aims with broader reforms that will open up new learning pathways, improve access to existing ones, and give young people a firm...

I will not take any more interventions because I need to leave time for others to take part in this short Third Reading debate. We are supporting our aims with broader reforms that will open up new learning pathways, improve access to existing ones, and give young people a firm...

I would encourage the hon. Gentleman to explain to the teachers in his constituency what the Bill actually says, which is that no one will be forced to stay at school. We are not proposing raising the school age at all. We are saying that simply doing nothing between the...

I would encourage the hon. Gentleman to explain to the teachers in his constituency what the Bill actually says, which is that no one will be forced to stay at school. We are not proposing raising the school age at all. We are saying that simply doing nothing between the...

I shall be happy to answer the hon. Gentleman's question as soon as he has given me a clear answer as to when Conservative policy would deliver 100 per cent. participation in education and training. When would that be?

I shall be happy to answer the hon. Gentleman's question as soon as he has given me a clear answer as to when Conservative policy would deliver 100 per cent. participation in education and training. When would that be?

There are certainly some excellent people doing excellent work at the sharp end. The hon. Gentleman has made it clear that he supports the principle of people carrying on learning until they are 18. How does he think that we are going to bring that about in practice? If he...

There are certainly some excellent people doing excellent work at the sharp end. The hon. Gentleman has made it clear that he supports the principle of people carrying on learning until they are 18. How does he think that we are going to bring that about in practice? If he...

There is other business beyond this. I hope that we do not waste 15 minutes on a vote and that we can get on with it. Question put:— The House divided: Ayes 268, Noes 166.

There is other business beyond this. I hope that we do not waste 15 minutes on a vote and that we can get on with it. Question put:— The House divided: Ayes 268, Noes 166.

I beg to move,"That the Order of 14th January 2008 (Education and Skills Bill (Programme)) be varied as follows:""1. Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Order shall be omitted.""2. Proceedings on consideration shall be taken in the order shown in the first column of the following Table.""3. The proceedings shall...

I beg to move,"That the Order of 14th January 2008 (Education and Skills Bill (Programme)) be varied as follows:""1. Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Order shall be omitted.""2. Proceedings on consideration shall be taken in the order shown in the first column of the following Table.""3. The proceedings shall...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way. While we are on the subject of grammar schools, I should say that there has been some uncertainty about his position. If an authority such as Tory Buckinghamshire wanted to build new grammar schools, would he support that?

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way. While we are on the subject of grammar schools, I should say that there has been some uncertainty about his position. If an authority such as Tory Buckinghamshire wanted to build new grammar schools, would he support that?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Education and Skills Bill. Programme motion (No 2) for proceedings on Report and Third reading. Agreed to on division (268 votes to 166). New Clause 14 debated and agreed to on question. New Clause 1 negatived on division (300 votes to 103). New Clause 18 negatived on division (359 votes to 37). New Clause 6 negatived on division (259 votes to 140). Third reading debate. Agreed to on question. Bill passed.

Education and Skills Bill. Programme motion (No 2) for proceedings on Report and Third reading. Agreed to on division (268 votes to 166). New Clause 14 debated and agreed to on question. New Clause 1 negatived on division (300 votes to 103). New Clause 18 negatived on division (359 votes...

I could talk about the 490 per cent. increase that Somerset will have received by the end of the spending period, compared with 1997, or the £88.6 million that that represents over the period. Is the new building that I am about to open in Yeovil in a few weeks...

I could talk about the 490 per cent. increase that Somerset will have received by the end of the spending period, compared with 1997, or the £88.6 million that that represents over the period. Is the new building that I am about to open in Yeovil in a few weeks...

The hon. Gentleman is strong on statistics for where we are now. Would he like to rattle off those for where we were in 1997 after 18 years under the Tories?

The hon. Gentleman is strong on statistics for where we are now. Would he like to rattle off those for where we were in 1997 after 18 years under the Tories?

Department for Children Schools and Families. Nineteenth opposition day debate (part 1). Main question negatived on division (313 to 231). Amendment agreed on question.

Department for Children Schools and Families. Nineteenth opposition day debate (part 1). Main question negatived on division (313 to 231). Amendment agreed on question.

I welcome today’s debate and thank hon. Members for their insightful contributions, which I shall try to comment on in a moment. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has outlined the significant progress that has been made in our schools over the past few years since our dodgy...

I welcome today’s debate and thank hon. Members for their insightful contributions, which I shall try to comment on in a moment. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has outlined the significant progress that has been made in our schools over the past few years since our dodgy...

(2) what guidelines his Department issues on recouping funds for excluded pupils.

(2) what guidelines his Department issues on recouping funds for excluded pupils.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what obligations there are on local education authorities to provide education for excluded pupils; and what funding is available for these pupils;

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what obligations there are on local education authorities to provide education for excluded pupils; and what funding is available for these pupils;